Line 3 (Dalian Metro)

Line 3 of the Dalian Metro (R3; Chinese: 大连地铁3号线; pinyin: Dàlián Dìtiě Sān Hào Xiàn) is a rapid transit line running from southwest to northwest Dalian. It was opened on the 8 November 2002. This line is 63.45 km (39.43 mi)[1] long with 12 stations.

Line 3
Line 3 train approaching Xianglujiao station
Overview
Other name(s)	R3 Dalian–Jinzhou intercity railway (Chinese: 大连金州城际轨道交通; pinyin: Dàlián Jīnzhōu Chéngjì Guǐdào Jiāotōng)
Status	Operational
Owner	Dalian
Locale	Dalian, Liaoning, China
Termini	Dalian Railway Station Golden Pebble Beach / Jiuli
Stations	18
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Dalian Metro
Services	2
Operator(s)	Dalian Metro Group Co., Ltd.
History
Opened	8 November 2002 (2002-11-08)
Technical
Line length	63.45 km (39.43 mi)[1]
Number of tracks	2
Character	Elevated
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

Line 3 is almost completely at grade or above ground; 13.89 kilometres (8.63 mi) is elevated, 1.123 kilometres (0.698 mi) is underground and 31.39 kilometres (19.50 mi) is at grade. Six stations are elevated, and the remainder are at grade. Transfers to trams and trains are possible at the Dalian Railway Station.

The northern area of the city, where the Economic and Technology Development Zone is located, is not well-served by buses. The metro line beginning at the downtown commercial center (near the Dalian railway station) runs through five administrative districts of the city and serves as an express transport between the northern (developing) region and the downtown area. The line extends northward to Golden Pebble Beach (Jinshitan Scenic Area), a national scenic park 50 km (31 mi) from the city center.[2] The Jiuli branch route was opened on 28 December 2008. The branch route connects central Dalian with Jinzhou District (金州区) with fourteen stations from south to north. The branch begins at Dalian Development Area station and stretches northwest ending at Jiuli station.

All stations have side platforms. Tracks in the platform area have no ballast (gravel); however, tracks outside the station are on ballast. All stations are covered by a combination of transparent corrugated sheets and a concrete roof.

In October 2017, most station names were re-translated from Pinyin into conventional English.

Since 18 November 2021, operation schedule of the branch section has changed to only Dalian Development Area - Jiuli, branch trains no longer run through Dalian Railway station, to allow testing of trains of line 13, and through trains between line 3 branch and line 13.